Bauxite: The principal ore of aluminum.
In the Bayer Process, the bauxite is washed in a hot solution of sodium hydroxide, which leaches aluminum from the bauxite. The aluminum is precipitated out of solution in the form of aluminum hydroxide, Al(OH) 3. The aluminum hydroxide is then calcined to form alumina, Al 2 O 3. Aluminum is smelted from the alumina using the HallHeroult Process.